Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions top 2.2 bn, revenue eclipses pay‑TV
Omdia reports global online video subscriptions reached 2.24 billion at the end of 2025, a 17.6% year‑on‑year rise. Revenue grew 13.5% to $176 billion, overtaking pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit in 2026 as operators shift focus from acquiring new users to monetising existing ones.
The Clippening
The Verge reports that anonymous clip‑farms are mass‑producing ultra‑short videos from podcasts and viral content, flooding TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. One such service, Vyro—launched by MrBeast—partnered with AI startup Perplexity for a paid campaign that paid $1.20 per thousand views. The campaign forced creators to have over 10,000 followers and to tag the posts with #PoweredByPerplexity and #sponsored, yet Perplexity claims no knowledge of Vyro. The episode highlights growing opacity in influencer‑style advertising and the challenges of enforcing disclosure rules.
From ‘Rank Me’ To ‘Trust Me’: How AI Is Rewriting The Rules Of Discovery
The rise of large language models is turning traditional web search into a zero‑click experience, delivering synthesized answers instead of blue‑link lists. Publishers now face a new visibility battle called Generative Engine Optimization, where inclusion inside AI‑generated responses matters more...
Reddit Tests App Push on Logged‑Out Mobile Users
But I thought logged-out users were now super-valuable to Reddit?? Very interesting test from Reddit here... Will be interesting to follow. Terrible user experience if you are forced to download the app. See the quote from Reddit below about this...
Keep Walking or Get Left Behind: Josh Dean on Reinventing Johnnie Walker
Former Johnnie Walker global VP Josh Dean explains how the brand’s “Keep Walking” platform serves as a creative north star, enabling authentic collaborations with cultural icons like Squid Game and Sabrina Carpenter. He argues that creativity should be treated as...
Google Discover Publisher Pages To Get Links & Featured Posts
Google is testing a redesign of its Discover publisher pages that adds custom link blocks, featured posts, larger header images, and sharper logos. Publishers will manage these changes by claiming their page, gaining the ability to reorder social media and...
Frank and Postecoglou Going Head to Head as BBC and ITV Pundits for World Cup
Former Tottenham managers Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou will serve as rival World Cup analysts, with Frank signing for BBC Sport and Postecoglou joining ITV. The two broadcasters share UK rights, each covering all 104 matches but with different allocations: BBC...
Adi Shankar Breaks Down ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 2, Vergil’s Arrival, and Future Story Arcs
Netflix’s ‘Devil May Cry’ season 2, produced by Adi Shankar, deepens the series with a heavier nu‑metal soundtrack and the introduction of Vergil as a silent counterpoint to Dante. Shankar swapped Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” for Korn’s “Freak on a...
TV5MONDE Launches FAST Channels in North American Hotels
TV5MONDE has rolled out three free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) channels—Chefs, Info and Voyage—across more than 275,000 upscale and luxury hotel rooms in North America via a partnership with SONIFI. The channels deliver French‑language content with English subtitles, covering gastronomy, daily news,...
At the AAP’s Annual Meeting, Talk of AI, Copyright, and ‘Ripples of Hope’
The Association of American Publishers held its 2026 annual meeting, spotlighting the clash between AI developers and traditional publishers. Executives highlighted a pending $1.5 billion settlement with Anthropic, a lawsuit against pirate site Anna’s Archive, and a new class‑action suit accusing...
3 Actionable Ways Affiliate Managers & SEOs Can Keep Relevant – Ask An SEO via @Sejournal, @Rollerblader
The article advises affiliate managers and SEOs on staying relevant as AI reshapes search and content discovery. It stresses aligning brand messaging with AI‑driven personalization, modernizing affiliate payment structures, and converting existing backlink sources into paid affiliate relationships. It also...
TelevisaUnivision Makes a Super Bowl Play for Advertisers at Upfront
TelevisaUnivision will air Super Bowl LVII in Spanish through an ESPN partnership, positioning the event as a lower‑cost entry for advertisers. The upfront adds new soccer rights, a Formula 1 Las Vegas broadcast with Apple, and expands ViX with 100 micro‑dramas slated...
UBN Launches CTV Serial on Rakuten TV in Poland
United Broadcasting Network (UBN) has introduced its FAST channel CTV Serial on Rakuten TV in Poland. The 24/7 linear channel streams curated Ukrainian series spanning crime, procedural and medical drama. The rollout aligns with UBN’s broader push to distribute Ukrainian...
What Generational News Habits Mean for Audience Growth
The Media Insight Project report shows stark generational splits in how Americans consume news. Teens lean heavily on social media and independent creators, with 57% getting news from creators and 81% of teens doing so daily. Adults 65+ favor television,...
Former ITV Exec Jayesh Rajdev Reveals New Role
Former ITV executive Jayesh Rajdev exited the broadcaster at the close of 2025 and has publicly disclosed his next appointment. He is stepping into a senior leadership role at a fast‑growing digital‑media company focused on streaming and data‑driven advertising. Rajdev’s...
Media Planning Has No Taste
The article argues that the media planning sector has become overly fixated on data, metrics and algorithmic optimisation, sidelining the human sense of taste that fuels creative storytelling. While programmatic buying and real‑time analytics deliver efficiency, they also risk homogenising...
Resident Alien Season 4 Arrives on Netflix June 6, 2026 – Final Season Details Inside
Netflix will add the fourth and final season of the sci‑fi comedy *Resident Alien* to its U.S. catalog on June 6, 2026. The ten‑episode finale originally aired on Syfy from June to August 2025. The series first arrived on Netflix...
NEP to Provide Broadcast Infrastructure for Eurovision 2026
NEP Group, via its NEP Europe subsidiary, will provide the full broadcast production infrastructure for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, supporting host broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union. The contract includes primary and backup outside‑broadcast facilities, wireless...
Social Media Updates and New Features to Know This Week
Meta announced a new AI incubator partnership with gener8tor, training over 100 small and rural businesses on AI tools, while also previewing advanced AI agents that can shop, research and act on users' behalf. The company introduced AI‑powered age‑verification that...
New NBC 'Rockford,' Fox 'Stewie' Spinoff Enliven Monday Upfronts
At their Monday upfronts, NBCUniversal and Fox unveiled new scripted and unscripted projects aimed at refreshing legacy brands and attracting younger viewers. NBC announced a four‑show scripted slate, headlined by a David Boreanaz‑led reboot of “The Rockford Files” slated for...
Fox Secures Two Extra NFL Games for 2026, Adds Munich International Slot to Schedule
Fox Corporation announced it will broadcast two extra regular‑season NFL games in 2026, featuring the league’s first Sunday triple‑header and a Saturday contest. The NFL’s upcoming schedule also reveals an international game in Munich, underscoring the league’s global push.
From Cannes to Commerce: How Authentic Studios Is Turning Fashion Brands Into Content
Authentic Studios, the content arm of Authentic Brands Group, was created in 2023 to shift the company from passive licensing to producing its own film, series and digital content. By leveraging heritage fashion and celebrity‑backed IP such as Elvis, Reebok,...
Rakuten TV Signs Up to Barb Measurement
Rakuten TV Enterprise has signed up for measurement by Barb, the UK broadcaster‑owned joint industry committee. The move brings its ad‑supported video on demand and FAST channels under the same independent methodology used by public service broadcasters and major streaming...
AI-Enhanced Video From the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Spread Confusion Online
An unedited security clip from the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Dinner was posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social after a shooting disrupted the event. Social‑media users applied artificial‑intelligence tools to sharpen the low‑resolution video, but the AI added fabricated...
SES Reiterates Outlook After Strong Q1
SES reported a robust start to 2026, with Networks revenue soaring 106% year‑on‑year and Mobility up 207.8%. Media revenue rose 42.9%, while the company signed €306 million (≈$334 million) in new contracts, including about €100 million (≈$109 million) from Media. New O3b mPOWER satellites...
EU to Crack Down on TikTok, Instagram's ‘Addictive Design’ Targeting Kids on Social Media
The European Commission announced plans to curb "addictive design" features on TikTok and Instagram, targeting endless scrolling, autoplay and push notifications that lure children. A new EU‑backed age‑verification app, designed for integration with digital wallets, will enforce minimum‑age rules and...
Meta's Ad Policy Gaps Let Scam Ads Target Seniors, Report Finds
A Center for Countering Digital Hate report reveals that 30 repeat scam advertisers delivered 215 million ad impressions to seniors on Meta’s platforms, despite the company’s claim of removing 159 million scam ads last year. The findings raise fresh regulatory and legal...
Blend Human Appeal and Bot Authority for SEO Success
You don't want "SEO" or "GEO", you want CLIENTS that come through Google and ChatGPT. So you have to think like them. In that sense, SEO is just like Social Media, Ads, etc. You won't get the traffic you need if you...
Google Discover Adds Links and Featured Posts for Publishers
Google Discover publisher pages gain links, featured posts and more https://t.co/f4X5m1o5LT via @AndellDam and @1492_Vision https://t.co/9VSIakWFJv
Discord Nitro Adds Free Xbox Game Pass Starter Tier for $9.99 Subscribers
Discord announced that its Nitro Rewards program will bundle a free Xbox Game Pass Starter edition for all Nitro subscribers. The starter tier offers a rotating catalog of 50+ PC and console games plus 10 hours of cloud gaming each...
Eurovision Kicks Off First Semifinal Amid Israel Boycott
JUST IN: The Eurovision song competition begins with its first semifinal after the boycott over Israel.
Media Hype Fuels AI Panic, Masks Deeper Issues
Week on week, VandeHei (and Allen) turn out this panicked, often puritanical bullshit about AI and then fill a block on Morning Joe pumping it. Behind the Curtain: Scaling sin https://t.co/Evf7nHV47w
Meet Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Who Plays Alamo in Euphoria’s Season 3
HBO's teen drama *Euphoria* has launched its third season, now the most‑watched series on HBO Max according to FlixPatrol. In the new arc, Zendaya’s Rue becomes entangled with Alamo Brown, a ruthless adult‑entertainment kingpin played by veteran actor Adewale Akinnuoye‑Agbaje....
Fox and NBC Expand NFL Broadcast Lineup
🚨New Episode🚨 w/ @kbadenhausen pinch-hitting for @novy_williams Sporticast: Fox, NBC Add More NFL Games https://t.co/PCxYAapEF3 via @sportico
Multi-Truck Production Power for Final Four Concert Broadcasts
TNDV and its sister company Live Media, divisions of Live Media Group, delivered a multi‑truck mobile production for the NCAA Final Four weekend, supporting the March Madness Music Festival and the first HDR concert broadcast between the two games. The...
Global Services Take Majority of Norwegian Video Viewing
Mediavision's latest research shows global streaming services now account for nearly 55% of all video consumption in Norway, marking the highest share among Nordic markets. Linear television usage has dropped dramatically, with average daily viewing more than halving since 2017....
Rings of Power S3 Arrives on Prime Video by 2026
The Rings of Power season 3 will make its Prime Video debut before the end of 2026. https://t.co/Lq4IklMF4t
Globe and Mail Grows Newsroom by 10% Fuelled by Online Subscriptions
The Globe and Mail enlarged its newsroom by more than 10% in 2025, bringing staff to 260 with 30 new hires focused on business coverage and everyday‑life reporting. Editor‑in‑chief David Walmsley said the paper’s subscription base – about two‑thirds of...
Billie Eilish Just Turned Roblox Into Her Concert Stage
Billie Eilish’s 3D documentary film “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR” was turned into an immersive activation on Roblox’s music hub, The Block, from May 6‑10. The virtual environment recreates her concert stage, allowing fans to explore, role‑play as the...
Screencore Expands Its Global Programmatic Infrastructure with the Launch of SuiteDSP
Screencore has launched SuiteDSP, an omnichannel demand‑side platform that adds CTV, video, native, display and mobile buying to its existing programmatic suite. The company now serves more than 150 markets, 30,000 publishers and delivers over 2 billion ad impressions each month...
Watching ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ as an Elegy for Magazines
The Devil Wears Prada 2 turns a beloved comedy into a sharp commentary on fashion journalism’s decline, earning $240 million in its opening weekend and already surpassing the original’s $326 million total. The film follows former assistant‑turned‑Dior executive Emily as she navigates layoffs,...
The OS Wars Are A Defining Test Of OEM Power
The article argues that the smart‑TV operating‑system battle is reshaping television economics, as OEMs move from thin‑margin hardware sales to advertising‑driven revenue models. Control of the home screen, content discovery and ad inventory now determines who captures the value created...
ABC Announces Fall 2026 Primetime Schedule
ABC announced its fall 2026 primetime lineup, marking the first full‑season renewal of its entire scripted slate. The network leads Nielsen’s cross‑platform ratings, holding four of the Top 5 Adults 18‑49 shows and ten of the Top 20 overall. A new midseason drama, “The...
ZenoRadio Grows With New In-Car Access
Zeno Media has added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support to its ZenoRadio app, enabling users to stream global radio stations directly from car dashboards. The update also introduces a “call‑to‑listen” feature that lets listeners dial a phone number to...
5 K-Dramas That Explore Loneliness, Survival, And Self-Worth Like “We Are All Trying Here”
The article highlights five Korean dramas—“My Liberation Notes,” “Daily Dose of Sunshine,” “Move to Heaven,” “My Mister,” and “Tomorrow”—that echo the emotional depth of “We Are All Trying Here.” Each series delves into loneliness, mental‑health struggles, and the quest for...
How to Make It Big on Substack in 2026: The Creator’s Guide to Growth
Substack has transformed from a newsletter service into a multi‑format creator ecosystem, now boasting five million paid subscriptions and ranking among the top five news apps. New features include video monetization, livestreaming, and a micro‑blogging feed called Notes, intensifying competition...
Google Tests AI Search Tool Built Around YouTube. What Affiliate Marketers Need to Know
Google is piloting an AI‑driven feature called Ask YouTube that answers natural‑language queries using video content directly within the YouTube interface. The tool adds a video‑first layer to Google Search, potentially diverting traffic that traditionally landed on text‑based affiliate pages....
Digest: Alibaba Pushes ‘Chat-to-Buy’ With Qwen AI; Amazon Data Coming to Netflix Inventory Next Week; Instagram Eyes Long-Form CTV Push
Alibaba is embedding its Qwen AI assistant into Taobao and Tmall, enabling chat‑to‑buy experiences where users can search, compare, and purchase via text or voice. Amazon’s shopping data will be integrated into Netflix’s ad inventory in the UK and EMEA...
2026 FIFA World Cup Audiences Are Growing and Fragmenting in Australia, Nexxen Forecast Finds
Nexxen released a forecast report on Australian viewership for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, using its proprietary data to map how fans will consume the tournament across linear TV, streaming and digital platforms. The study finds that 88% of Australians...
Fox Sports Conjures a Winning World Cup Game
Fox Sports has partnered with the agency Special US to launch a high‑profile advertising campaign ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The spot features a roster of American and global sports icons—including Tom Brady, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former U.S. coach Bruce Arena and hockey...
Vivid Broadcast Debuts 20-Camera Fully Remote HDR Truck
Vivid Broadcast has launched Barra OB, a 20‑camera fully remote outside‑broadcasting truck built for HDR and SDR workflows. The vehicle runs on a 63 A three‑phase supply, delivering over eight hours of operation with shore‑power redundancy, and includes True Control 2.0 for remote audio...